Unlocking The power Of Enough

“You are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.”
Maya Angelou

As kids were you ever told that you were enough? Or were you always trying to prove your worth?

For many of us, sadly, it is the latter. But what if it was different?

What if we could go back in time and tell our younger selves we were enough? Would that change who you are today?

The Beginning- Mindset Shift and Feeling Enough

The first time I felt I was enough was surprisingly when I became a mother. There is something cathartic about falling to pieces while holding a nursing infant in the middle of the night. You don’t remember the last time you slept well or even showered. And yet your heart is full. A tiny human makes you feel that yes, you are truly enough.

That’s how my journey into enoughness started.

It was also during this time that I decided to carry this idea in all areas of my life. I realized that I was content with being enough and did not need the best of everything to be happy.

I just needed to be at peace.

feeling enough- a picture of a bench in a park

Being Enough and Creating Balance

The next logical step for me was to make my life simpler. At this point in my life, I was already a believer in the concept of simple and mindful living. The idea of being enough just helped me get into it with full dedication.

One of the first things I did was embark on a journey of decluttering. However, I did not go full Marie Kondo on this. It was just not possible with an infant. Instead, I tackled this at my pace and focused on specific areas. Some of the things that I decluttered and donated were:

Clothes- lots of it
Unused kitchen items
Some books
Furniture

Along with the physical decluttering, I also tried to make some space for my emotions and mental well-being. I wanted to be present in the moment. To do that, I had to focus my energy on what was happening now and stop worrying about what might happen in the future. I will not lie, this proved to be quite difficult. I had to unlearn years of habitual anxious behaviors to find some peace.

Nurturing Meaningful Connections

Decluttering made space for other meaningful things. It meant that I could invest more time and energy in building meaningful relationships. To me, a life of enoughness means one that is filled with positive interactions over material goods.

So, I started paying more attention to how I was interacting with my son. I took this time as an opportunity to build lasting memories with him. He will grow up soon enough but these memories will remain as bright spots in our lives.

My husband and I also made it a point to spend some time every day connecting with each other. It’s easy to get lost in the mire of parenthood, especially as first-time parents. This is the time when a marriage especially needs a little bit of extra care and we did just that.

feeling enough- a picture of a flower arrangement

In addition to this, I also began forming new connections outside my home. I met some of my current friends during this stage of my life. These are mostly parents from my son’s daycare and they have become steadfast friends now. I also took some time to do volunteer work.

And all of this allowed me to have a mindful life of enoughness.

Sustainable Living and Enoughness

Adopting eco-friendly habits is a crucial aspect of embracing enoughness. Simple changes can have a significant impact, such as reducing single-use plastics, conserving water, and opting for public transportation or carpooling. We also incorporate energy-saving practices at home, like using LED bulbs, unplugging devices when not in use, and setting thermostats mindfully. Choosing reusable over disposable items and recycling or composting whenever possible helps reduce our environmental footprint.

I also choose to support local and ethical businesses whenever possible. Indeed, such products are usually more expensive than mass-made items. To manage this, I choose certain areas where I am inclined to buy local/ethical than others. For example, clothing is one item where I always prefer to practice sustainability. It means that I can afford less but the purchases support my cause.

We do what we can and that should be enough.

Embracing enoughness involves nurturing meaningful relationships, living sustainably, and making mindful choices. By focusing on what truly matters and reducing unnecessary consumption, we can lead a more fulfilling and environmentally conscious life.

Peace.

Do you have any related experience or story to tell? Please share in the comments below. I would love to hear from you.